The owner of a fish and chip shop has been forced to work in the dark after her electricity bill hit £1,000 per month.
Amy Anemoni, 28, took over Whieldon Fish Bar in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, a month ago and is already seeing the impact of the cost of living crisis.
Since there is no price cap on business energy, many eateries are feeling the pinch as their monthly bills have gone through the roof.
The woman, originally from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, told Stoke-on-Trent Live that last year the chippy's electricity bill was £150, but it has now risen to £1,000 per month.
She said she always switches off the lights whenever she can and works in the dark, but she cannot let her staff do the same.
Ms Anemoni explained: "We are turning off the lights whenever we're not using them.
"I'm used to it so I can go there but if I have any staff I can't let them work without the light."
Despite rising costs, however, the chippy boss is trying to keep the same prices as she is aware that many families are struggling due to the cost of living crisis.
The fish and chip shop offers 10% off orders over £10 and meal specials starting at £3.25.
Ms Anemoni said they are also adding some unusual items to the menu, such as chips pizza and nugget pizza, in order to appeal to a wider customer base.
She added: "The customers say our food is cheap, and they also like that we use cod rather than sea bass or something else.
"People have said the chips are good now compared to previously. Fish and chips is our biggest seller."
This morning, a watchdog said that nearly 32 million people - or 60% of all UK adults - are struggling to pay their bills.
The Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) latest Financial Lives survey said the total was up 6 million from 2020, when the economy went into lockdown to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Britons are facing rising food and fuel prices, with inflation now topping 10%, far higher than most pay increases.
The survey said there were 4.2 million people missing domestic bills or credit repayments in three or more of the last six months, up from 3.8 million in 2020.
"One in four UK adults are in financial difficulty or could quickly find themselves in difficulty if they suffered a financial shock," the watchdog said in a statement.
